Slicing machine



Sept. 29, 1936. J. F' OLK 2,055,818

SLICING MACHINE Original Filed Sept. 17, 1932 RIB.

' Iflverflbr: Joseph/ELK Patented Sept. 29, 1936 SLICING MACHINE Joseph Folk, La Porte, Ind., assignor to U. S. Slicing Machine Company, La Porte, Ind., a

corporation of Indiana Original application September 17, 1932, Serial No. 633,594. Divided and this application January 7, 1935, Serial No. 637

2 Claims.

This invention relates to slicing machines in general and particularly to a knife used in connection with slicing machines.

This application is a division of applicants copending application Serial No. 633,594, filed September 17, 1932, which is assigned to the present assignee.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a slicing machine knife which is provided with a narrow edge facing the substance which is to be sliced so as to reduce the forming of scraps to a minimum, which reduces the larding of the knife to a minimum, and which causes easier operation of the slicing machine due to the elimination of a great amount of friction between the cutting knife and the substance.

Another object of the invention is to provide a knife which is relatively dish-shaped and has a relatively narrow edge inclining inwardly away from the substance and inclined in respect to the dished portion of the knife.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a slicing machine knife having a relatively narrow edge facing the substance and inclining away from the cutting plane and which is recessed inwardly of said narrow edge to receive a knife guard plate, there being a flattened portion within the area of the dish-shaped knife to receive and engage and form a bearing for the knife guard plate.

Numerous other objects and advantages will be apparent throughout the progress of the following specification.

The accompanying drawing illustrates a selected embodiment of the invention and the views therein are as follows:

Fig. 1 is a detail end elevation of a slicing machine and embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a detail sectional view on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view through the knife on an enlarged scale.

The slicing machine herein shown for the purpose of illustration has a base I upon which a carriage 2 is operatively mounted for reciprocation fore-and-aft over the base I. Rods 3 and 4 are supported at their ends by lugs 5 formed on the base I and support and guide the carriage 2. Means designated generally by the numeral 6 are provided for causing reciprocation of the carriage 2 as well as rotation of the knife I. It is understood, however, that any other means for operating the carriage and the knife may be employed, and the invention is applicable tovarious types of machines including the so-called semi-electric in which the knife 1 is driven by a motor and the carriage 2 is reciprocated manually.

A gauge plate 8' manually set by a'hand-wheel or knob 9 is provided to gauge the thickness of slices to be out. A spring-pressed food pusher, not shown, of any well-known type, may be provided for urging substance on the substance supporting table or surface in to urge the substance toward the gauge plate. A knife guard plate II of the type shown in the aforesaid copending application and claimed in applicants other copending application Serial No. 719,692, filed April 9, 1934, may be used in connection with the present knife construction. A slice deflector I2 is arranged on the rear side of the knife and the slice I3 of the substance l4 deflects away from the knife after the slice has been formed.

The above elements form no part of the present invention, but are explained to cover the general operation of a slicing machine in which the particular knife embodying the present invention may be employed.

The knife 1 is dished between its peripheral edges l5 and has an inclined receding portion l6 of relatively straight construction with a slice cutting or engaging face I! formed between the peripheral edge and the flat-sided angularly inclined portion l8 of substantially uniform thickness which recedes partially away from the cutting edge as clearly shown in Fig. 3. The narrow fiat cutting portion l6 of the knife inclines inwardly away from the substance and is approximately not over one-half inch in width. The inclining narrow peripheral edge of the knife prevents the substance from rubbing on the face thereof and reduces. larding of the knife considerably as well as reducing the friction between the knife and the substance, thereby permitting easier operation of the slicing machine. Another highly desirable reason for sloping the face of the knife away from the cutting edge in a direction slightly away from a plane parallel to the direction of the movement of the carriage overcomes a drag on the substance and permits a slice to be cleanly and evenly cut from the substance. Ordinarily with a spring feed the substance is caused to rub against the edge of the knife resulting in the larding of the knife, but in the present arrangement this is prevented due to the very small amount of space between the peripheral edge of the knife and the guard plate which forms points of contact with the substance, thereby substantially preventing the intermediate portion of the substance from engaging the knife. Also, the relatively narrow receding portion of the knife reduces the number of scraps formed to a minimum as well as reducing the bleeding of the substance.

The invention provides an exceedingly efiicient type for permitting easy operation of the slicing machine and for eliminating drag and friction between the substance and the knife. particular knife herein disclosed and claimed reduces larding of the knife to a minimum and reduces the bleeding of the substance due to the elimination of a considerable amount of the surface contact between the knife and the substance.

Changes may be made in the form, construction, and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacri flcing any of the advantages thereof, and the right is hereby reserved to make all such changes as fairly fall within the scope of the following claims.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

1. A circular knife for slicing machines and comprising a dished body portion, a cutting peripheral edge having a relatively narrow flat sur- The.

face extending inwardly toward the center of the knife and inclining slightly away from the peripheral edge thereof and from the cutting plane of the knife, said edge being less than fiveeighths of an inch in width, and an intermediate annular portion having an inner face inclined with relation to the cutting edge portion and to the body portion, and the outer face presenting, together with the outer face of the peripheral edge portion, a smooth, unbroken surface to the slice.

2. A circular knife for a slicing machine having a cutting edge and comprising a circular dished body portion, a narrow annular portion of substantially uniform thickness extending at an angle from the body portion and surrounding the same, said annular portion having a narrow peripheral cutting edge portion the inner face of which is inclined slightly inwardly from the plane of the cutting edge of the knife, the outer surface of said annular portion forming with the outer face of the cutting edge portion a uniformly inclined slice deflecting portion.

JOSEPH FOLK. 

